Batman vs. Jack the Ripper




Based on Gotham by Gaslight by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola, this Elseworld story brings The Bat to 1800’s England to track down one of the most notorious serial killers of all time, Jack the Ripper.

Historically, the killer was active mostly in 1888 around what is called the Whitechapel District in London. Jack targeted prostitutes in some cases removing their internal organs giving suspect that perhaps the killer had some type of surgical expertise. The identity of Jack the Ripper was never found out and no one was ever arrested for the murders.

London – 1888, the Jack the Ripper murders are gripping the nation and the people of Whitechapel are growing increasingly scared. Chief Inspector Abberline is struggling to figure out who the killer is and with added pressure from above to catch the murderer – will his own demons begin to get the better of him. But there is someone out there who wants to help. Watching… in the shadows… waiting to strike.

The film is well produced and stylized, but there really isn’t any cohesive story. I do have issues with the film. The antagonist, Abberline, who is investigating these killings, is haunted by the grisly murders without any real payoff at the end. Batman takes a bat seat – I mean back seat in the story. He remains in the shadows. Let’s face it. That’s where Batman belongs. Abberline could have been Batman’s 19th century Commissioner Gordon, but such a relationship is only touched on.

There just seem to be pieces missing that could have really made this a complete package. It’s more a film with scenes without those scenes connecting cohesively.

With that critique in mind there are certainly a number of positives. It’s hard enough to make a fan film with no budget let alone producing one as a period piece with locations, costuming and props. It was pretty amazing what they put together in that department. And the acting was top notch. Let’s face it. In a majority of fan films, the acting is usually sub-par.

I don’t normally give my opinion on the films I post here. I normally let them speak for themselves. This film was so well produced and edited it compels me to share a little frustration. It is so good – I just know with a little extra it could have been one of the best Batman fan films of all time.

It’s still excellent. WATCH IT!

UPDATED MAY 2017



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